Senator Albers: Weeks Two and Three Under the Gold Dome
Friday, January 31, 2025
The third week of the 2025 Legislative Session has wrapped up, and we’re staying focused on passing commonsense legislation that puts Georgia families, businesses and communities first.
Last week’s snow in South Georgia may have delayed budget hearings for a few days, but it didn’t slow us down. The General Assembly has been hard at work in joint sessions, carefully reviewing budget requests to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Passing a balanced budget is not only our constitutional duty—it’s the foundation of a responsible government that serves its people.
One of the most crucial budget proposals this session is Governor Brian P. Kemp’s plan to return $1 billion in surplus funds to taxpayers directly. Thanks to years of conservative budgeting and fiscal responsibility, we can give back to the hardworking Georgians who keep our state running. This is just part of the $2.2 billion in statewide allocations designed to benefit families, businesses and communities across Georgia. I’m proud to support Gov. Kemp’s efforts to strengthen our economy by putting more money back in your pockets.
Another key priority is ensuring communities hit hardest by Hurricane Helene have the necessary resources to rebuild. Gov. Kemp has proposed $614.72 million in recovery funding, including $150 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund to help with debris removal and housing assistance. Another $300 million will go to the Georgia Department of Transportation to restore roads and infrastructure. Many rural counties are still reeling from this storm, and we’re committed to ensuring they get the support they need to recover and move forward.
Back at the Capitol, we hit the ground running this week, advancing legislation that reflects our values and priorities. I sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 27, referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. SB 27 would establish the offense of doxxing as a stalking-related crime. Doxxing significantly disrupts a person’s everyday life. I want to enable our law enforcement officers to catch those who engage in criminal acts and the judiciary system to adequately prosecute those who choose to endanger the lives of innocent Georgians.
I also sponsored SB 37, the “AI Accountability Act.” This bill would create a Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence and require that all governmental entities develop and maintain artificial intelligence system usage plans. These plans will be made available to the public to keep all Georgians aware of how their government uses and monitors AI systems. With this bill, we will further raise accountability for the operation of AI and regulate the development of these systems as the technology steadily becomes more complex and commonly used in the future of government.
In other news, as committee meetings pick up, we’re working hard on issues that matter most to our communities, from protecting our schools to strengthening local infrastructure. SB 57 is particularly close to my heart. Entitled the “Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act,” this legislation would reclassify emergency organ transport vehicles as ambulance services to ensure the transportation of life-saving care goes uninterrupted. It is because of such services that I was able to donate a kidney to save my son’s life, and I believe it is essential that we continue to support organ and tissue donation to preserve the potential gift of life for thousands of other Georgians.
Finally, I encourage students ages 12 to 18 to apply for the Senate Page Program. This is an excellent way for young people to see firsthand how the General Assembly works. If you know a student who might be interested, they can apply here.
As always, I’m here to listen. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about our work at the Capitol, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s an honor to serve you, and I appreciate your trust as we work together throughout the remainder of the 2025 legislative session.

Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and Fulton County. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at [email protected].